Chile’s narrow coastal strip stretches for 4300km and is dominated by the towering peaks of the Andes. Covering over half the length of South America, Chile has an unparalleled range of environments; from the world’s driest desert, the hostile Atacama, with its geysers and salt flats, to the fertile valleys and vineyards of central Chile. To the south lies the Lake District with dramatic, snow-capped volcanoes, deep blue lakes and gushing waterfalls. Further still, we reach Patagonia, a land of ice fields, mountains, glaciers and immense solitude; the 'uttermost part of the earth'.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Santiago; city tour.

Clients on the group flight will usually arrive in the morning. A walking tour of the city tour is organised today (approx. 4 hours), visiting the squares and streets of the colonial centre and the Presidential Palace. We also visit San Cristobal Hill, on which a statue of the Virgin Mary stands. The summit of Cerro San Cristobal offers a birds-eye view of Santiago, the Andean Mountains and the Maipo-Valley. Without a doubt the best viewpoint in the city! If there is time we will also see the wealthy suburbs of the ï¿½Barrio Altoï¿½, an area of elegant shops and first class restaurants. Please note that due to the hotel check in time of 2pm and the fact that the group flight tends to arrive fairly early in the morning, it is common for the city tour to be conducted prior to hotel check in. This is decided depending on the wishes of the group. Land Only clients wishing to join the city tour would be advised to be at the hotel around 10 - 11am in order to be collected.See more images and videos

2Day 2Optional excursion to Valparaiso.

Today is free for you to explore Santiago at your leisure or enjoy one of the activities on offer in the surrounding region (including wine tours). We recommend the excursion to Valparaiso, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Valparaiso is the oldest port in Chile and has huge historical significance, once known as 'Little San Francisco'. The hilly city is bursting with multi-coloured houses and emits a bohemian vibe, with the upper and lower sections of the city connected by 15 funicular elevators built in the 19th century. On this excursion we take in Valparaiso's unique flair before moving along the coast to the beaches of Vina del Mar. Known as the Garden City for its many municipal parks and green spaces, Vina del Mar has beautiful stretches of sand, modern hotels, first-class restaurants and elegant bars.See more images and videos

3Day 3Fly to Calama; to San Pedro de Atacama.

In the morning we fly to Calama near the Atacama Desert where we transfer to our hotel in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Once we have checked in we can visit the archaeological museum of Padre le Paige (entrance fee extra), with its famous collection of artefacts showing the development of the Atacameno society. The church of San Pedro dates from the 17th century and its roof is made out of cactus. At dusk we set out to the Valley of the Moon. This bizarre lunar landscape is set ablaze with colour at sunset, the strange rock formations framed by the Lincancabur Volcano. We'll stay until the sun goes down to enjoy the array of colours before returning to San Pedro.

Today is free for optional activities - explore the Salar de Atacama (1/2 day), visit the Quitor and Tulor acheological sites (1/2 day), or the Altiplano lagoons (full day). The Salar de Atacama is a salt lake of huge proportions at 3,000 sq km. Its surface is covered by a thick layer of snow-white salt crystals stretching as far as the eye can see, caused by the evaporation of the lake's water. The world's largest lithium deposits are found here, but the salt pan is also home to several flamingo species, including the Andean, Chilean and James flamingo, who feed on the micro organisms found in the saline lagoons. These beautiful birds and other species can be observed in their natural habitat at the Salar de Atacama's Chaxa Lagoon, which is part of the Reserva Nacional de los Flamencos.
We offer an optional star gazing trip this evening. There are few places with a sky as clear as northern Chile and astronomers from all over the world are regularly drawn here. This 3 hour tour will take place outside with an expert guide who will explain the basics of astronomy and point out some of the highlights of the southern hemisphere. Warm clothing is recommend.See more images and videos

5Day 5Optional excursion to El Tatio geysers.

We recommend a visit to El Tatio Geysers today. This optional excursion starts early when the geysers are at their most spectacular. El Tatio is situated at 4,500m above sea level on the Altiplano and there are about 40 geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles. The early morning light striking the water and steam that hurls up from the geysers makes for an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, today is free to enjoy one of the other optional excursions that you may have missed yesterday.

We transfer to Calama airport and fly to Santiago and then Puerto Montt, the capital of the Lake District. This is a long travelling day, that will likely require an early start depending on the flight schedules. On arrival in the Lake District region we drive for 30 minutes to Puerto Varas on the shores of Lago Llanquihue. Once here we shall enjoy a brief tour of the 'City of the Roses' as it has come to be called because of the tremendous variety of roses all over town. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel where we can relax for the evening.See more images and videos

7Day 7Lago Todos Los Santos boat trip; walk near Osorno Volcano.

In the morning we set out for a full day inside the Lake District. We drive along the shore of Lago Llanquihue and enjoy breathtaking views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Our first real stop will be at the Saltos de Petrohue where cooling lava from the Osorno Volcano formed a series of rapids and waterfalls. Together they form an impressive sculpture of extruded volcanic rock shaped by thousands of years of river flow. Upon arriving at the landing at Petrohue we board a small typical wooden boat for a short cruise of Lago Todos los Santos (All Saints Lake). The lake is surrounded by high mountains and the lower slopes are thickly forested. As we pull away from the landing and the source of the river Petrohue, the view is quickly stolen away by the tremendous size and proximity of snow-capped Osorno Volcano behind us. We return to Petrohue and take an easy hike in the lower lava fields of the volcano. We also visit the Green Lagoon (Laguna Verde) before we return towards Puerto Varas in the afternoon.

After breakfast we transfer to the capital of the Lake District, Puerto Montt, and take a sightseeing tour of the city. Puerto Montt was founded in 1853 by German colonists on the site of an indigenous Mapuche community. Downtown we take time to walk about the main squares and historical monuments. Afterwards we visit the port, where there is a large handicraft market full of artisan goods. We then transfer to the airport to board a flight to Punta Arenas, Patagonia - the southernmost city in Chile.

This morning is free for an optional excursion by boat to Magdalena Island, home to over 150,000 penguins and one of the most spectacular wildlife reserves in Chile. In the afternoon, we drive north through the vast patagonian 'Pampa' to Puerto Natales with terrific views en route of the Straits of Magellan and across the chilly Antarctic waters to Tierra del Fuego. This excursion is weather dependant as it involves taking a zodiac boat out onto the water, so as an alternative we also offer visits to the Otway Sound penguin colony.See more images and videos

10Day 10Torres del Paine N.P.

We start early this morning for a full day of sightseeing inside the Torres del Paine National Park. This is a busy day of travelling and walking including unforgettable views of the Towers and the Torres Massif, Lago Grey and Grey Glacier as well as the tremendous wildlife found in this region. We will do some short hikes to reach the most beautiful points of view within this National Park.See more images and videos

Another day of sightseeing and short walks in Torres del Paine before we head back to the lodge in Puerto Natales. For those that would like to, there is the possibility (optional) of returning by zodiac. This excursion involves boarding zodiacs to sail through Rio Serrano. The river ends at the Fjord Ultima Esperanza where we must change to a boat to approach the spectacular Balmaceda Glacier flowing out from the eastern side of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. We aim to arrive at our accommodation in Puerto Natales around 5:30pm.

Transfer through the barren Pampa of Patagonia, an impressive road trip as we journey to Punta Arenas airport. We fly back to Santiago and have the rest of the day free for private exploration.See more images and videos

13Day 13End Santiago.

There is a transfer back to the airport for those on group flights. Those on land only arrangements will leave us in Santiago this morning.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are moderately fit and possess a spirit of adventure. Some previous experience is required for most activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

12 breakfasts

All accommodation

London flights (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation - GBP450

Accommodation details

Hotels and B&Bs

You will spend 6 nights in comfortable hotels and 6 nights in standard hotels or locally owned bed and breakfasts. All hotels are en suite and average a 3 star rating. One of the hotels you will stay on is in on the edge of the Torres del Paine National Park, set on the banks of the Serrano River.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
British, most European and most other nationalities, including Australians and New Zealanders, do not require visas. All other nationalities should contact the nearest Chilean Embassy if in doubt. Citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia pay a fee on first entry into Chile by air (cash US Dollars only, no credit cards or cheques): USA (USD140), Canadian (USD132) and Australian (USD62 - valid for only 90 days). There is no fee for other nationalities at the time of writing. The one-time charge is valid for the life of your passport so keep the stub stapled in.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

This is a busy itinerary that visits the main highlights of Chile. We travel by private minibus and take five internal flights to allow you to experience as much as possible of this beautiful and diverse county in a short space of time. You should be aware that there are some long travelling days on this trip. We stay in 3* hotels or bed and breakfasts throughout the trip.

Eating & drinking

All areas offer good quality local and international meals.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Since Chile is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the reverse of those in Europe; trips are therefore organized between October and March, to take advantage of the longer, warmer days in the rather brief summer period. During these months the summer temperatures in Santiago reach a maximum of 30degC, while in Puerto Montt they are more likely to be around 20degC. Although this is the dry period of the year, rain cannot be ruled out.

Gallery

Reviews & community

Can't imagine that you can beat this trip in diversity, both in sceneries, the best that Chile has to offer and the many optional side trips that are actually part of the trip and no added costs required. Great value for the money. Tour leader Miguel Angel Lara was the best. This is my 6th Exodus trip and he was the best so far. My luck indeed.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

To survive the Zodiac trip inside T del Paine as I carried a lot of cameras and I was afraid of water damage etc. I was well prepared and the operator was expert and the wind and temperature cooperated. No guarantee inside the Park as it can change on a dime! The elements are critical as high wind would make this much more challenging.

What did you think of your group leader?

Superb, full marks

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring your own acetozolamide( Diamox ) for altitude sickness as you should take them in Atacama; anything over 10,000 feet or 3500 m would cause the problem. You don't want to feel sick or disabled while on holidays. To enjoy the place one needs to be feeling well and fit. Take no chances as nobody can escape altitudes sickness unless you are born in high altitudes. I have been to many places over 3500 m and this one is no different. I used the drug every time and it saved me from feeling unwell; I still feel short of breath on walking but it is manageable. I have seen others that were not prepared and how ill they felt. Take precautions so that you will not get sick!! I forgot to bring it but I was able to buy it in Santiago.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Do some walking to prepare yourself for this trip. It is quite strenuous. There are many hikes and you have to keep up the pace. You have to climb up as well. If you have pain in your knees or hips on walking bring your own antiinflammatory drugs. You will need them. Prepare for at least a month to get fit.

Great way to cover a lot of the country.
Not for the faint hearted. There are 5 internal flights. This means you are packing in a lot on every day and not really enough time to do any real justice.
Atacama and Patagonia were must sees. The lake District was disappointing. I would recommend taking out if this stayed as a 14 day holiday and add to Patagonia and/or Atacama. However keep if ever to go to 21 days.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Christmas Eve with a clear view of Torres del Paine while eating our Xmas meal (which they celebrate on Christmas Eve).
Penguins (unfortunately not on the island in Megallan Straight)
Flamingos in the Atacama.
Night sky in Atacama

What did you think of your group leader?

Charming and helpful but was obviously a trekking Leader and looked out of sorts trying to work out what to do with us at times as it was a non-trekking holiday. Most of us wanted to stretch our legs instead of short 15 mins pointless walks. I believe he was brought in at last moment as a standby.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Look at number of internal flights and work out if you could make better use of your time by booking an alternative holiday.
If you want to go to Easter Island book a LONG time in advance (8-9 months especially over Christmas and New Year). Most of people that went there booked it separately from the trip.
If you book your onward flights separately then allow for delays with internal flights
Many of the options are now integral with the new brochure as what is the point going if you don't get to see some of the major optional high-lights
Be warned. Some options are weather dependent with a reasonable chance of cancellation (as both ours were, Penguin Island and Serrano Boat Trip).
If you want some walking (even as long at 3 kms) then not really trip for you

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This is not a cheap country. You will be paying European prices for just about everything.
If you like beer the country has several micro-brewers much to my delight
Food is usually excellent. However be warned portions can sometimes be massive, e.g. in some places order a pizza for 2.
Giant Crab in Puerto Natales are the biggest you will ever see. The largest costs around £90 but will feed 4 easily without any need to eat anything else. (not all restaurants sell them).
Bring binoculars as a fair amount of bird and animal life. Don't rely on camera zoom. It's not the same.
Bring layers of clothes. It can rain, especially in Patagonia. Normally fairly warm, if you ignore the fact the rain can be horizontal and 100kms winds in some exposed places.
A wine excursion would be good on return to Santiago. There are some around but you need to book before you return to city as they start at 9am. The alternative suggested was a very expensive taxi/guide.
The Pre-Columbian museum is excellent but the Casa Colorada is shut with no opening date. The Cathedral is undergoing repairs but could get in. The "Pueblo" at Los Dominicos is good for souvenirs at end. There is even a steam train museum (sigh but never made it!).
The underground is easy to use but watch your bags.
Ice -cream is good everywhere as everybody eats them
Watch the stray dogs in Santiago. They are in surprisingly good condition. They even stop at pedestrian crossings and only cross when green.
Walking boots are an overkill for the current holiday arrangements. Walking shoes are more convenient and comfortable. I got by with walking sandals
Service can be slow especially when a group arrives and each wants to pay separately. They tend to take food and drink order at same time and that includes all the bother of trying to work out what each dish is. The record was 55 mins between arrival and first drink.

A very busy tour with lots of travelling by both planes and bus and lots of hanging about at airports. But you get a very comprehensive look at the main sights of Chile and an understanding of its culture and history.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

For me the highlights were the Lake District where I wish we could have spent more time and done more walking and the extension to Easter Island. I am in a minority here within our group where the Atacama and Patagonia were the most popular.

What did you think of your group leader?

Unfortunately Felipe was an adequate guide but no more. This was the first time he had done this trip and it showed. He normally does the walking tour and seemed to regard this as a trip for (inactive) OAPs. As a result we did less walking than I had expected from the trip notes. He was not very communicative and we had to ask what was happening rather than just being told. I got more information on where to eat and shop in Santiago from a woman I sat next to on a plane than I did from Felipe.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared for a lot of busy travelling days and waits at airports.
If you are Travelling from Heathrow with Iberia and from Madrid with LAN check in on line as the airline systems don't talk to each other at Heathrow.
Take clothes for both warm and cold climates - the only things I took and didn't need were waterproof trousers.
Be prepared for some of the optional extras like the trip to Magellan Island to be cancelled due to rough seas.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Although I have been quite critical I did enjoy this trip and am glad I went to Chile with Exodus. It was a great and varied group of people. We laughed a lot. With a better guide my rating would probably have been higher.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Are dollars best for this trip?

Yes, taking a mix of dollar denominations is the best idea for this trip. Taking cash is fine, as long you exercise the same degree of common sense you would at home. The leader will best advise you on changing it once you arrive. ATMs are becoming more common but you shouldn't rely on them 100%, in case there are any problems.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

What is Patagonian weather like?

Unpredictable! One thing you can be sure though is the wind - Patagonia is famous for it. Due to proximity of the sea the climate in Patagonia is actually relatively mild. The temperatures don't go very low in winter and don't jump up in summer. Eastern Patagonia (Argentinean side) tends to be a bit warmer because of the warm equatorial current reaching the coast there. Summer is usually dry and rather sunny. Temperature during the day could reach the low 20s but it is more likely to be in the high teens. In the night it drops to 5-10 degrees. The Chilean side (e.g. Torres del Paine National Park) is definitely wetter - you can expect rain any time. It is also a few degrees colder as the west coast is washed by a cold current.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

How long are the driving days?

Because of the distances involved, and the road conditions, some drives can feel long. However, there are ample opportunities to stop so you can grab something to eat or use the toilet. A long lunch stop is also within the itinerary, so you should have plenty of chances to stretch your legs!.

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

How much should I budget for optional activities in Patagonia?

There is always a lot to see and do in Patagonia, either as part of the trip or as an extra optional activity. If you are interested in maximising your time there, you need to budget accordingly. Full details for optional activities are in the detailed trip notes and, as costs for some items can be high, you need to ensure you have allowed for everything you would like to do.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

I'm travelling via the US, do I need a visa?

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

How do I join the Departure Lounge (forum) in the Exodus Community?

To view the Forums, including the Departure Lounge, you do not need to be member of the Exodus Community, simply click on the Community link at the top of every page and read the posts in their respective sections by entering the Departure Lounge, or one of the other options in the list on the page.

To join in a discussion, if already a member, please sign in to your Exodus website account (not related to booking reservations) to contribute to the Forum. If you are not a member of the Exodus Community, you can register by clicking the 'Sign in' at the top of every webpage and select ‘Register’ within the drop down panel.

When viewing the Forum area of the website, as you scroll through the 'Rooms' which are set out by 'travel months' during the current year within the Departure Lounge. You can then select the 'month' of intended travel, then filter the list of trips that have already been created by fellow travellers to see if your trip is listed. If the trip you are travelling on is not in the list, you can start the process by clicking on the 'Post new forum topic' link above the list on the same page. If you do see your trip within the list, select it to view the 'discussion' by your fellow travellers and you can join in by completing the 'Post your comment' section below the discussion thread.

Please note: there might be slight a delay before your post/comment appears as intended because we moderate what is published on the website.

We hope you enjoy using the Departure Lounge to meet your fellow travellers and continue to contribute right up to the start of your journey with Exodus.

Trip Extension: If you would like to experience a 'once in a lifetime' visit to the unique and fascinating Easter Island then it is possible to extend your trip with us. For more details please refer to our Trip Notes. Alternatively you can call our Sales team who will be happy to assist you.

You recently looked at

From the social networks

Exodus Travels
New Horizons, Old Friends
Did you know you can now book an Exodus adventure just for you and your friends? http://bit.ly/1BDCAQi
#JointheEx... Make an Exodus itinerary your own by taking your own friend with you, and still get a dedicated leader for the duration of the trip. Private Adventures for You & Yours3 hours 51 min ago.

Responsible travel

We realise that every holiday destination is also someone else's home and that we should leave places as we found them. Find out more about how we incorporate responsible travel into our adventure and activity holidays, and how you can help by donating to one of our responsible travel projects.